Western Cape - Teaching and learning started on a high note in coastal schools on Wednesday.
In the Western Cape, about 936 000 learners attended their classes when schools re-opened for the new school year.
Western Cape Education MEC Yousuf Gabru, who was accompanied by education officials to lend support to learners attending schools for the first time, checked if the proper preparations were put in place to start the new school year and ensure that learning gets underway.
About 89 000 Grade 1 learners in the province started school for the first time.
Among the schools visited by Mr Gabru included the Mount View Secondary School in Hanover Park, where he reminded learners that everything they do at school will affect the rest of their lives.
"If you work hard in school you will be able to leave school and study something that will be of benefit to you, your family and your community," Mr Gabru told learners.
He also expressed concerns about the large number of learners at the school who did not collect their reports at the end of 2008, noting that it was an indication that parents in some communities do not show an interest in their children's schooling.
Senior officials from the provincial department including members of parliament, members of the provincial legislature and provincial MEC's also visited about 200 schools to make sure that schools were ready to begin teaching and learning.
Most schools completed their planning at the end of 2008 and were well prepared for the start of the 2009 school year.
However, some schools experienced difficulties including late registration and learner absenteeism.
Mr Gabru said all problems that were picked up during the school visits will be followed up and the schools will be monitored to ensure that they function optimally.
He said the provincial department's Metropole North District Office will on Thursday open a registration centre at the Chris Hani Hall in Mfuleni to alleviate problems experienced due to the late registrations.
Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department said they would provide tents as an interim measure to schools in the province that were destroyed by recent storms.
A number of classrooms were destroyed during the storms, which hit the province in the past few weeks with the South Coast and Midlands being the most affected.
Department spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said the department was talking to principals from neighbouring schools to provide temporary accommodation for displaced learners.
He said all the reported cases will be attended to and dealt with as emergencies, especially in schools that were severely damaged.
He said the full extent of the damage to schools would not be known until all reports from district offices of the Department of Education had been received.
More than 6 000 schools in the province were opened on Wednesday.
Provincial MEC Ina Cronje is currently doing surprise visits to some of the schools around the province as part of monitoring and ensuring that teaching and learning starts on the first week of school.
The MEC will be accompanied by provincial MEC for Finance and Economic Development Dr Zweli Mkhize, Premier Sibusiso Ndebele and his Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini.
